Superior Bikes find a home with BikesOnline
Superior Bikes, from the Czech Republic, have made a name for themselves across the world of dirt, and they are now available from BikesOnline.
Hailing from the Beskidy region of the Czech Republic, Superior Bikes are a European bike brand that have the mountains on their doorstep. Making bikes since 1993, the brand have made significant inroads into the world of mountain biking, road, gravel, youth bikes and of course urban bikes.
BikesOnline are now importing Superior Bikes and will be stocking a range of their eMTBs, full-suspension XC bikes, hardtails and gravel bikes.
Superior Bikes will now join the likes of Polygon and Marin at BikesOnline. As an online retailer, BikesOnline are known for their sharp pricing. You select your bike and size online, order it and it ships to your door. Our experience is that the bikes ship very quickly, and they typically need very little work to get them ready to ride.
Check out the bikes from BikesOnline we have reviewed:
Polygon Siskiu T6
Polygon Siskiu T9
Polygon Siskiu T6E
Polygon Collosus N8E
Polygon Collosus N7
But if you're not sure what bike is right for you, and where to put a pedal or which way up handlebars go, BikesOnline offer guidance. Be it assembly guides for bike builds or even suggesting a retailer nearby who offers a bike service.
So what Superior Bikes will we be seeing at BikesOnline?
Superior Bikes eXF 9039 B e-bike
The brands that don't have an eMTB in their line-up are looking pretty few and far between these days, so as you'd expect Superior will have an eMTB in Australia. The eXF 9039 B looks pretty good on paper. It's a 29er eMTB with a Bosch CX support system, delivering 85Nm of torque and backed up with a 750Wh battery, selling for $9399.
The alloy frame delivers 140mm of travel via a chain stay pivot and top tube mounted swing link driving a RockShox Super Deluxe Select R. However, the front end is bolstered with a 160mm travel Lyrik Select RC.
The eXF 9039 is available in three sizes; medium, large and XL. On a large (19") bike, the geometry reads as you'd expect for a trail/all-mountain bike. The reach measures 485mm and the seat tube is 440mm which should allow for reasonably long droppers – although do note there is a bend at the base of the seat tube.
A 77 degree seat angle will keep you over the pedals on the ups, with a 64 degree head angle finding a great balance point between confidence and climbing capability. The back end is 446mm across all three sizes. Interestingly, Superior list the head tube at 120mm across all sizes as well.
In terms of parts, the xEF 9089 B has a Shimano Deore group set covering the majority of the moving bits, including their 4-piston brakes. There's an upgraded SLX rear mech, but to be honest the Deore 12-speed gear works pretty flalwlessly. Interstingly only 180mm rotors are specced. This looks to be a big oversight! We'd expect 200/200mm as a better fit for an eMTB like this.
The wheels are a DT Swiss H 1900 wheel set. H stands for hybrid, which is how DT Swiss mark their eMTB specific equipment. This means thicker hub flanges, brass nipples, stronger spokes and reinforced drive components. Superior wrap the rims with Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres in the Super Trail casing – which is tougher than the name implies!
It's great to see the Bosch wireless head unit in the top tube. You can select modes with this or just get an easy visual guide as to what mode you're in and how much battery charge you have left.
All in, this is a good looking bike. Selling for $9399 means it is in a pretty competitive part of the eMTB market. The Superior needs to content with bikes like the Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC SLX 750 ($9299 from 99 Bikes), the Trek Rail 7 for $9999, and the new Merida eOne-Sixty 875 ($9499). Each bike has its own merits in handling, and the Superior may walk the best line between aggressive handling and all-round use. We'll test one and find out!
Superior Bikes XF 29 Issue R
We'll say it for those who haven't been paying attention – but XC is not dead. Some riders may not realise they are doing it and globally, there is big demand for XC bikes. A capable XC full-suspension bike is a joy to ride, and that's what BikesOnline must be thinking by stocking the XF 29 Issue R. This is their leading cross-country full-suspension bike in the range and it sells for $8999.
This XCO war rig comes out swinging, being tested on the World Cup circuit. With a frame weight claimed at 1717g it's freaking light, delivering a 110/105mm suspension platform on 29" wheels. The frame is full carbon, with an alloy swing link. Routing is internal at the side of the head tube (yay!) although the derailleur hanger isn't UDH. As a plus, you can fit two water bottles in the mainframe, which is a BIG DEAL for this sort of bike.
The frame is available in four sizes from S-XL, nominally 15.5" to 21". A large (19") frame sports a reach of 465mm, seat angle of 74.6 degrees and a head angle of 68 degrees. With short 428mm chain stays on all sizes these bikes are modern in their XCO footing but they're aggressive. Make no mistake – they'll want to go fast!
The rear end uses a flexstay arrangement and a flat mount rear brake, which is even spaced out for a 160mm rotor – so if you want to go full weight weenie you can run a 140mm rear rotor.
Suspension is handled by DT Swiss with the F 232 ONE and R 232 fork and rear shock – you can read our DT Swiss suspension review if you're drawing a blank on this gear. DT Swiss have a very neat lock out arrangement. It's an over the bar lever which leaves room for a Shimano iSpec dropper lever for the Crank Brothers dropper post.
The group set is Shimano XTR 12-speed, albeit with a RaceFace NEXT SL carbon crank. The Shimano group set gives a 10-51t range and of course the super light XTR race brakes. This is all part of keeping the weight to a claimed 9.9kg with dropper – not bad for $8999 with carbon wheels and a top shelf build!
The amazing DT Swiss XRC 1501 Spline wheels take care of rolling duties, wrapped in a 2.25" Schwalbe Racing Ray and Racing Ralph combination in the SuperRace casing with ADDIX Speed compound.
While this model has all the fruit, BikesOnline will also sell the XF 979 RC for $4999. The frame layout is exactly the same, but you get a RockShox SID fork and DT Swiss shock for the 110/105mm suspension platform, and a Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain mix.
The wheels are still from DT Swiss in the 1900 range, and so while this bike won't come in sub 10kg, it will leave several thousand dollars in your pocket for your dream event entry and travel.
Superior Bikes hardtails
Long live the hardtail! While a hardtail won't be many people's first choice for a mountain bike, for many people it makes sense. You get better parts for your money and lighter weight, along with less maintenance. Of course, a hardtail is an ideal fit for many casual riders and commuters, and it's a seriously useful weapon in the arsenal of any rider chasing performance gains. Having a hardtail in the shed lets any mountain biker mix up their time in the saddle. And there's nothing quite like jumping back on a hardtail to remind you to be smooth.
Geometry across the range is conservatively capable, running a 69 degree head angle and 74 degree seat angle. With a 465mm reach in large it's a good overall fit that will match well with short(ish) stems, without needing to stay on the gas all the time to make the front end hook up. Bikes are available in sizing from S-XL with four stops.
Leading the charge from Superior Bikes at BikesOnline is the XP 969. This white rocket sells for $3699, with a Shimano SLX 12-speed drivetrain. The SID SL has a bar mounted remote lock out, and DT Swiss and Schwalbe look after the wheels with an X 1900 wheel set and iconic Racing Ray and Ralph combination. BYO 30.9mm dropper to get the most out of the bike.
Next cab off the rank is the Superior Bikes XP 929 – same carbon frame, just down a rung on the build kit. This means it sells for $2899 which is cheap as chips for a full carbon frame and 12 speed Shimano group set.
Shimano Deore 12-speed takes care of the shifting business, while Shimano MT410 2-piston brakes do the whoa work. 32 hole STARS rims on Shimano hubs with Racing Ray tyres look after the wheels, and a RockShox Recon fork keeps the front end in control. Compared to the XP969 what you will really notice is suspension performance and weight and resilience in the wheels. Is that worth getting the XP 969 then?
Like a hardtail, but want less carbon? Superior Bikes have got you. The Superior XP 939 at $2399 might be right up your alley. Sharing the same geometry and sizing options as the carbon frames, this model rocks out with a Shimano SLX and XT group set and a RockShox Recon Silver fork.
Wheels are similar to the XP 929 but you've got the alloy frame and a better drivetrain – this could be a great choice for anyone looking around the $2400 mark for a new hardtail. Don't forget, we put this kind of bike under the microscope!
For under $2000, BikesOnline are also selling the Superior Bikes XP 919. This bad boy has the same alloy frame and geometry BUT also comes in an XXL for the tall timber. In terms of parts, Superior still deliver a snazzy Shimano Deore and SLX 12-speed mix, and you get the same wheels as the two other models above it, but with CST tyres (not shown).
Suspension is via a Judy Silver TK – it won't set the world alight with midstroke support but this is about what you can expect performance wise for a $1999 hardtail.
Gravel bikes from Superior Bikes
Gravel is hot right now, and BikesOnline will be selling the X-Road range of bikes, which bridge a gap from road to gravel. These bikes will sell between $2499 and $4499, ranging from alloy frames to carbon models.
The X-Road carbon frame has protection on parts of the frame for gravel roost, along with neat internal cable routing.
The bikes have build kits to suit their use, with the X Road Team Comp GR (above, $3499) sporting a GRX 1×11 group and DT Swiss wheels. Of note, the geometry is closer to a road bike with a steeper 72 degree head angle and slacker 72-73 degree seat angle (depending on size). If you're after a full gravel adventure bike – look elsewhere. But if you want something that can bridge the gap between just about any drop bar use – this might be a range worth taking a look at.
